Manaslu Circuit and the Tsum Valley

This fantastic trek combines the Manaslu Circuit trek with a week in the very remote and unspoilt Tsum Valley. A total of 20 days trekking.

We feel very privilaged to have special permits to trek both the Manaslu Circuit and the Tsum Valley, both are areas that see few trekkers each season and we are very pleased to be able to offer this trek to a small group each season.

The package is for 29 days in Nepal starting and ending in Kathmandu and will include 4 days in Kathmandu and 3 days relaxing in the pleasant lakeside resort town of Pokhara immediately following the trek.

The Manaslu valley is remote and culturally fascinating with strong and continuing links with Tibet. We will be crossing the Larkya-La, a high pass at 5200m with spectacular views of Mt. Manaslu the eighth highest mountain in the world and if time and group fitness allows we will also visit Manaslu Base Camp.

The remote Tsum Valley has only recently opened to trekkers (2008) and is a Himalayan Pilgrimage valley situated in the northern Gorkha area. The name "Tsum" means vivid which describes perfectly the impression one gets almost immediately when entering this very special place. This untouched valley has remained vitually unchanged for centuries and has been described as both the "Garden of Eden" and "Shangri-la" by some of it's few western visitors. Accommodation will be in tents whilst in the Tsum Valley as there are as yet no lodges, (although we believe there is some lodge construction under way).

The local inhabitants are mostly of Tibetan origin and speak a unique dialect. The trails here are strewn with artistic chortens and are lined with Mani walls made of thousands of carved stone slabs adorned with drawings of deities and inscribed with prayers. The valley has a long history of Buddhism and the important Buddhist saint Milarewa is believed to have meditated in the mountain caves here.

The ancient remains of the Tsum kingdom are still visible today and due to it's remoteness and inaccessibility this sacred valley and it's people have been bypassed by mainstream developement which has resulted in the unique culture of the valley remaining largely intact.

Whilst we are in the Tsum valley we will visit Mu Gompa where there is a large monastery with over 100 monks, there is also an ancient Gompa which was visited by David Snellgrove in 1956 (see Himalayan Pilgrimage).

At this point in the trek we are virtually surrounded by Tibet and we will have many tantalising views of the borders.

Following our side trip into the Tsum valley we will continue trekking the inspiring Manaslu circuit to the road head at Dharapani where our transport awaits to drive us to Pokhara via Besisahar.